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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  2. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  3. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  6. The tickets are free of ________________.
  7. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  8. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  9. How do you ________________ your surname?
  10. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  11. That must've been a ________________.
  12. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  13. Did you ________________ the button?
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  16. The ________________ market has crashed.
  17. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  18. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  19. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  20. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  21. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  22. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  23. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  24. Where can I ________________ my mobile?

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. spell — magic
  2. rush — hurry
  3. leaves — to go away
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. spell — a short time
  6. charge — a price
  7. leaves — of a tree
  8. stock — goods
  9. spell — letters
  10. face — to confront
  11. rush — a thrill
  12. fork — to eat with
  13. press — to push
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. press — newspapers
  16. stock — shares
  17. fork — in a road
  18. stock — a soup base
  19. face — to point toward
  20. face — part of the head
  21. fork — a garden tool
  22. charge — in control
  23. press — a publisher
  24. charge — electricity

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com